Moving target



Jan. 13, 1931. RlTCHiE 1,788,889

MOVING TARGET Filed May 5, 1950 //v VENTOR kw/v Rut/m;

ATTQRNEY 5 back of the body.

. Patented- Jan. .13, 1931 V JOHN RITCHIE, on NEW nnnnnnnnnnnn, s mnm g4; I 1 MOVING 'rnrie n r' Application filed May 5, 1930, Serial No. 449,916, and in Great Britain May 6, 1929.

This invention relates to moving clay targets used chiefly for giving instruction in the use of gun or rifle. These are made of clay and sand, plaster or other frangible material in the form of rabbits, game birds or the like which on being hit are broken into fragments and completely disappear.

An important object of the invention is to 1 provide apparatus wherein any required number of targets may be carriedon a moving endless band (including a chain, cord, belt or equivalent) in clips so constructed that upon a target being broken (and only its stub being left in 'theclip) a new target can be simplyheld in the path of the advancing clip and will eject the old stub and itself be carried forward in the clip.

'Oth'eriobjects and'advantages of the invention will be understood from the description of an embodiment thereof which follows. and

from the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates the front view of mov-' ing targets arranged in a landscape.

clip whereby the targets are secured to the endless band.

' Figure 3 shows the clips secured 5 a chain. "Figure 4: shows the clips secured to a flat' belt.

' Figure 5 shows a target to aslightly larger scale. V

The targets 1 made of frangible material are each formed with a projection 2for engagement by a spring clip 3. fThe clip has a flared front opening 4, a main portion comprising bottom 5an'd sides: 6, and a back- I ward extension 7 ofone of the sides.

sides may have upper flanges 8 helping to setthe level-of the target and one or more the clip tothe endless band t). The backward extension 7 has a vertical inward projection 7 a formed upon it a little way back from the The band 9, comprising forexample a chain 3, or a belt driven by a pulley 10a as shown at Figure 4, passes in front of a screen 11- behind which a man may stand safety.

the full speed desired.

Figure 2 shows to an, enlarged scalethe I I claim :e

tion and a'catch portion, the insertion of a The The clips on thechain ior belt can thus be charged with fresh targets while in motion. The chain or belt itselfmay be masked in front by a'screen l2 above whichthe targets project. -The screen may bemade shot' or bullet-proof to protect the chain, belt or like I and the-carrier. J Y s V In" operation an attendant can stay behind the screen where the return run of the belt i taneously ejecting the stub of the'old target: d

immediately the latter'leaves the mainbody it drops away and the backward extension I V springs inwardly again enough to bring the pro]ection Ya into the path of the new target.

Thereuponthe operator releases the latter which is sufliciently firmly held by the clip. 7

WVith a little practice, an operator can thus replace targets whilethe band is moving at 1. Apparatusofthe kind described com,- v prising anendless band, a numberof clips thereon,frangible targets, for ins'ertioninsaid clips, the, said clips comprising a body pornew target automaticallypushing the stub H of a broken target out of the body portion and the catch returning to check and locate the newtargetin correct'position." V y 2. Apparatusof the kind described com+ prising an endless band, a number ofclips thereon, frangible targets for insertion in said clips, the said clips each comprising a flared front opening, a-body portion, "and a V i spring catch spaced backwardly from the- 9 holes in the bottom 5 may be used for securing thereon, frangible targets for insertion" in said clips, the saidclipseach comprising ass I pieceof sheet metalbent to form a'flared front I driven by a sprocket 10 as shown at Figure 7 an inward vertical indentation, 2 loo 

